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The fire crackles, sending a dense shower of sparks into the sky. They almost look like stars, for just a brief moment, before the breeze makes it give way to the night sky above. It’s completely clear tonight, for the first time in a few weeks. Endless stars - real stars - dot the lightless expanse, making shapes and patterns you can feel you once knew. Sometimes, on nights like these, you used to dream of falling into that inky void. You would find your way to one constellation or another and hope that it would guide you home. You don’t do that anymore. Your home is right here, lying on the grass on either side of you. Right now, where you are, you’re happy.
It’s been a long journey to get here. Ever since the loops ended, you knew that one day, your journey together would also come to a close. And it did end, slowly, but surely. Bonnie was the first to leave - after they made their way to Bambouche, their sister decided that going to school was more important than wandering the country. Mirabelle and Odile went not long after. Mira returned to Dormont saying that she had been asked to teach a class at the House on the practical application of Healing Craft, and Odile travelled to southern Vaugarde after receiving a letter from some of her mother’s family.
Through all of this, Loop and Isabeau were always by your side. Ever since Loop showed up at the door of the inn that you were preparing to leave a few weeks into your travels, the three of you have been nearly inseparable. Sure, there were… several problems that needed to be solved, but you worked through it, together.
Another, smaller crackle in the fire sends more sparks drifting into the sky. Unbidden, a thought creeps into your mind, bringing a small smirk to your face.
“Hey. Isa.”
“Yeah, Sif?”
Isabeau’s eyebrows raise in anticipation.
“You know you’re my bea-”
Before you can complete your absolutely incredible joke, Loop shoves something sticky in your mouth. It's warm and sickly sweet as it dances upon your tongue.
You swallow without a second thought.
“Stars, stardust. That one was terrible.”
You try to give a retort, but it’s hard to form words around the melted marshmallow that’s stuck to your tongue. All that comes out is muffled shouts and grunts.
“Hmfgarbgh”
“Awww, Loop, I wanted to hear it!”
“Trust me, Sunlight, you don’t want to know. I know, and I shouldn’t. Because it’s bad. So I’m telling you - you don’t want to know.”
Isabeau makes a very cute pouty face. Stars, you want to kiss him again. And you would, but you still have marshmallow in your mouth. Off to your side, Loop sighs dramatically.
A gust of wind blows out between the trees, rustling the grass and stirring up the fallen leaves. The breeze brings the cold with it, but your cloak keeps the worst of it out. Your face and hands aren’t so lucky - your gloves aren’t thick enough to stop your fingers from going numb, and burying your face into your cloak doesn’t spare your nose.
Isabeau barely reacts to the wind. He has always been naturally warmer than you and Loop, which is obvious just by feeling his hands. Normally, you would take this chance to immediately run over and snuggle up to his side to share in that warmth, and it is very hard to resist falling to that temptation.
Next to you, Loop curls themselves up into a ball, and nudges slightly closer to the fire. Normally, you wouldn’t think too much of this, especially on a night like this, but there was something nagging at you.
Sure, their outfit wasn’t really designed to handle the wind. Isabeau was obviously only thinking about how to best show off Loop’s lightless, star-speckled skin when he created it. If it were you, like Loop once was, you would almost certainly be freezing. But Loop still says nothing, and keeps shifting ever closer to the fire.
You know what this is. Both you and Loop have had endless conversations about this habit you’d fought the Universe to kick. It took months and months of practice to be able to open yourselves up to the mortifying ordeal of being known, but you could do it now. You can do it now. Yet, Loop just can’t bring themselves to ask.
Slowly, you reach your hand out to Isa’s, trying to grab their attention. You don’t know what to say. He always knew what to do at times like these, better than anyone in your family. You always just… fall short. Even when it comes to Loop. But that’s okay. Isabeau is here to do the things both you and Loop can’t, bridging the gaps in your little trio.
At this moment, he is the one that Loop needs the most.
Isa tilts his head at you as you look between him and Loop, trying to silently convey your thoughts. As always, he figures out what you are trying to say very quickly. He sits up taller, produces a blanket from his pack, and puts on a smile that makes you feel warmer than the fire in front of you.
“Loop, hey, do you want a blanket?”
They scoff at the thought, waving their hand as if they could disperse it like smoke. “Thanks, Sunlight, but I’m quite comfortable here.”
“Alrighty, then, would you like to sit over here with me?” He asks, making the biggest, saddest eyes you think you’ve ever seen him make. Loop just turns away and makes a grumbling noise, their star-shaped head glowing just a little bit brighter with embarrassment.
You lean in next to Isabeau, trying to match his expression as best as you can. “Please?” You say, in your best pleading voice, hoping that they will take the offered olive branch.
Loop huffs. “It’s fine,” they insist. “You know I don’t feel the cold like the two of you do. The perks of being a star~!”
That’s a lie, you know that all too well. You and Isabeau lock eyes, wordlessly communicating as best as you can without Craft. Silently, you both stand up, and circle around to other sides of the fire, causing Loop to startle slightly. Their eyes flick back and forth between you, like a cornered animal trying to find an escape.
“What do you two think you’r-!”
Their words are cut off with a startled, very cute squeak as you dive into their side, wrapping your arms tight around their torso and burying your face deep into their neck. Isa follows close behind, pulling the two of you into his arms with a delighted laugh.
Cozy!
You didn’t feel particularly cold before, but you definitely feel much warmer now. The heat of the fire, with the warmth of your combined body heat, makes you feel a deep sense of comfort. It’s almost enough to tempt you into drifting off to sleep, listening to Loop’s halfhearted protests and Isa’s light, airy laughter. The thought is nice, but you still resist it. Letting sleep pull you in will make you miss this moment.
“If we’re just going to sit like this, we should just put out the fire and go to sleep,” Loop mumbles. Despite their complaining, you can tell that they are enjoying the attention. They’re clinging on to you way too much to say otherwise.
“I don’t get to enjoy the moment nearly as much when I’m sleeping,” Isa says, a wide grin spread across his face as he echoes your thoughts.
“You’re so sentimental sometimes, Sunlight,” Loop mutters, leaning their head into Isa’s chest, very obviously trying to hide a smile.
You lean over, and lightly plant a kiss on their cheek. “You are too, Loop.”
They let out another grumble, which only serves to make both you and Isabeau laugh. They join in too, after a brief moment.
Together, the three of you sit and watch the fire, wrapped in each other’s arms. Slowly, one by one, sleep begins to pull each of you into its depths. As you drift into slumber, surrounded by the two people you love more than anything else in this world, you feel safe, and warm. But, before you let yourself sleep, there is still one thing you need to do.
“Hey, Isa?” You mumble.
“Yeah, Sif?” He mumbles back, voice half asleep.
“I want you to know that you’re our beau.”
Next to you, Loop groans loudly.